Lumpfish are strange but also incredibly important to ecosystems. Visit a lumpfish hatchery with us to discover this fantastic little fish. These fish get their name from the bumps that cover their bodies, giving them a lumpy appearance. The lumps also aid in their defense. These small fish have a suction cup disk on their bellies, allowing them to cling to rocks, seaweed, and other fish. That’s a good thing because they can barely swim.
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The video is from a lumpfish hatchery in North Wales. The entire farming process is extensive, considering how tiny the lumpfish are. Other names for the little fish are “Lumpies,” “Cleaner Fish,” and “Lumpsuckers.” Their pectoral fins have developed into the suction-cup-like disk on their belly.
They are native to the North Atlantic but may travel as far south as the Chesapeake Bay. Farmers raise them in hatcheries to become “employees” at salmon farms. The lumpfish remove parasites from the salmon, which helps salmon farmers keep their stock healthy.
Lumpfish enter the hatchery as eggs but hatch quickly. They begin life with a greenish color but turn bright blue as they mature to the juvenile stage. The hatchery grows the helpful little fish until they are large enough to vaccinate. Each fish must be immunized by hand, which can take several weeks.
Once the fish have their vaccines, they are almost ready for transport to salmon farms. Each fish must reach about 25 grams in weight before they can be released at the salmon farms. The process, from hatching to shipping out, takes about eight months. The lumpies ride to the salmon farms via trucks equipped with tanks.
Please share if you think these lumpfish are ugly but also adorable.
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